Early Voices — Portraits of Canada by Women Writers, 1639–1914

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Overview

This selection of writings by twenty-nine women, known and unknown, professional and amateur, presents a unique portrait of Canada through time and space, from the seventeenth to the early twentieth centuries, from the Maritimes to British Columbia and the Far North. There is a range of voices from high-born wives of governors general, to an Icelandic immigrant and a fisherman’s wife in Labrador. A Loyalist wife and mother describes the first hard weather in New Brunswick, a seasick nun tells of a dangerous voyage out from France, a famous children’s writer writes home about the fun of canoeing, and a German general’s wife describes habitant customs. All demonstrate how women’s experiences not only shared, but helped shape this new country.

Digital download (EPUB)

October 2015

Status: Available

$0.99

100 pp

ISBN 978-1-45973-473-9

Reviews

Some of the women writers were wealthy. Some were poor. Some wrote professional. Others kept journals. Together, they richly portray Canadas geography and early culture.

Road Stories

A splendid selection of the observations and experiences of twenty-nine women.

OHS Bulletin

Replete with intellectually provocative commentary on women's experience of life in Canada.

Ontario History magazine

About the Authors

Mary Alice Downie has written and edited twenty-eight books for children and adults. Her many books include And Some Brought Flowers with Mary Hamilton, and The Well-Filled Cupboard with Barbara Robertson. She lives in Kingston, Ontario.

Elizabeth Jane Errington is currently dean of arts at the Royal Military College and also teaches at Queen’s University. Her research interests centre on life in nineteenth-century Upper Canada. She lives in Kingston, Ontario.

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Site Help

We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Arts Council for our publishing program. We also acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Book Fund and Livres Canada Books, and the Government of Ontario through the Ontario Book Publishing Tax Credit and the Ontario Media Development Corporation.